Effect of cultivation conditions on growth and antifungal activity of Mycena leptocephala

Growth and production of antifungal agent by Mycena leptocephala was investigated in different culture media composition at various initial pH and temperatures. Maximum growth and activity was observed at the initial pH of 5.5 and 25oC. No detectable growth and activity was observed at pH of 3.5 and 7.5. Growth of the fungus and antifungal activity were also very low at 37oC and 20oC. The organism grew better and culture extract showed higher level of antifungal activity when malt extract plus glucose were used as carbon source and yeast extract was used as nitrogen source. Meanwhile the lowest level of growth and antifungal activity were observed when starch was used as carbon source for growth of the fungus. Key Words: Culture conditions, basidiomycetes, bioactive compounds, carbon source, nitrogen source and temperature. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(11) 2004: 606-60

The effect of evening primrose oil on fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by demyelination in the central nervous system. In regard to the prevalence of diseases and enormous costs imposed on society and the health system, finding a way to stop the progression of the disease using drugs with fewer side effects seems a serious sanitation issue to the health of the international community. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of evening primrose oil (EPO) on fatigue and quality of life in patients with MS. Materials and methods In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 52 patients with MS were chosen and categorized into 2 groups which received 2 doses of EPO and placebo. In addition, the quality of life and fatigue scale in these patients were investigated before the treatment and again 3 months after therapy. The findings were then compared between the 2 groups. Result EPO consumption significantly increased cognitive function, vitality, and overall life satisfaction and also reduced pain and fatigue compared to placebo (P<0.05). Conclusion Our findings indicated that EPO consumption had no impact on the quality of life in general; however, it had a significant effect on several important aspects of life quality such as the increase of cognitive function, vitality, and overall life satisfaction. It also reduced the pain and fatigue in comparison to the placebo consumption. Herbal medicines are brittle and have fewer side effects than chemical drugs. With use of this plant, reduced fatigue and improved quality of life were observed in MS patients. But the drug did not prevent the progression of the disease. Keywords: cognitive function, vitality, overall life satisfaction, pain, fatigu

The effect of evening primrose oil on fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis

Nastaran Majdinasab,1 Foroogh Namjoyan,2 Mohsen Taghizadeh,3 Hamid Saki4 1Department of Neurology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz, Iran; 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Marine Natural Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; 3Department of Nutrition, Research Center for Biochemistry &amp; Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran; 4Department of Neurology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by demyelination in the central nervous system. In regard to the prevalence of diseases and enormous costs imposed on society and the health system, finding a way to stop the progression of the disease using drugs with fewer side effects seems a serious sanitation issue to the health of the international community. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of evening primrose oil (EPO) on fatigue and quality of life in patients with MS.Materials and methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 52 patients with MS were chosen and categorized into 2 groups which received 2 doses of EPO and placebo. In addition, the quality of life and fatigue scale in these patients were investigated before the treatment and again 3 months after therapy. The findings were then compared between the 2 groups.Result: EPO consumption significantly increased cognitive function, vitality, and overall life satisfaction and also reduced pain and fatigue compared to placebo (P&lt;0.05).Conclusion: Our findings indicated that EPO consumption had no impact on the quality of life in general; however, it had a significant effect on several important aspects of life quality such as the increase of cognitive function, vitality, and overall life satisfaction. It also reduced the pain and fatigue in comparison to the placebo consumption. Herbal medicines are brittle and have fewer side effects than chemical drugs. With use of this plant, reduced fatigue and improved quality of life were observed in MS patients. But the drug did not prevent the progression of the disease. Keywords: cognitive function, vitality, overall life satisfaction, pain, fatigue&nbsp

Body composition and basal metabolic rate in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Aim of the work: Descriptions of the body composition parameters and metabolism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are limited. The aim of the present work was to assess the body composition factors and basal metabolic rate (BMR) in Iranian SLE patients and to study its relation to disease activity. Patients and methods: Seventy-four female SLE patients and 76 matched controls were included in the present study. The body mass index (BMI), body fat (BF), visceral fat (VF), body muscle (BM) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were measured using BIA (bioelectrical impedance analysis). The international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess physical activity. SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was assessed for all the patients. Results: The mean age of the patients was 38.5 ± 10.1 years with a median disease duration of 7.5 years. The median SLEDAI was 4. Body composition factors (BMI, BF, VF, and BM) were not significantly different between the patients and their controls. The BMR in SLE patients was significantly lower (1328.4 ± 154.6 kcal/day) than the controls (1400.4 ± 200.4 kcal/day) (p = 0.01). No differences have been found in body composition parameters and BMR between the SLE patients with high and low SLEDAI or daily corticosteroid dose. There was no significant correlation between the SLEDAI and any of the studied parameters except for a negative association with age (r = −0.3, p = 0.03). Conclusion: SLE women have a significantly lower BMR compared to their controls. No significant differences have been observed regarding BMI, BF, BM and VF between the groups